TANGLED UP AND BLUE: Carmelo Anthony (center) battles for a rebound with Marvin Williams (left) and Josh Smith during the Knicks’ 100-90 loss to the Hawks last night in Atlanta.EPA

CAN’T LOOK! Knicks interim head coach Mike Woodson reacts after a foul in the second half of the Knicks’ 100-90 loss to the Hawks last night. (AP)

ATLANTA — Mike Woodson’s defensive juggernaut got cooled off in Hotlanta and the Knicks’ playoff position no longer looks as comfy.

Woodson suffered a bunch of regular-season losses in this building as the Hawks coach, but Friday night was as painful as any as Atlanta whipped the battered Knicks, 100-90, at Philips Arena.

Woodson fell to 8-2 as Knicks coach as their mounting injuries finally caught up with them. It marked just the second time the club has given up 100 points during his impressive reign, and the Bucks closed within 1 ½ games of the Knicks for the final playoff spot.

Carmelo Anthony finished with 36 points and nine rebounds, but tweaked his groin again in the fourth quarter and didn’t close well. After bringing the Knicks to within two points on a lovely 3-point play, he missed four of his last five shots down the stretch and committed a deathly interception that led to a Jeff Teague fastbreak dunk that became the backbreaker. Meanwhile, Knicks-killer Willie Green closed with panache, notching a 15-point fourth quarter.

The absence of point guard Jeremy Lin was deeply felt as starter Baron Davis, his hamstring pull worsening, had a pitiful outing. Davis scored four points on 2 of 8 shooting and committed four turnovers— three in the first three minutes. When the Knicks play host to the Cavaliers tonight, Woodson said he likely will dust off Toney Douglas to reduce Davis’ minutes.

“It’s not getting better,’’ said Davis, who appeared in discomfort as his entire right leg was getting taped in the locker room. “I’m not getting the push I need. It’s not like I have the balance. But, no excuses. I got out there and I [stunk].’’

The Knicks’ playoff chances took a hit. Their bid to leap past Atlanta for the all-important sixth seed looks shot. They fell 4 ½ games behind the No. 6 Hawks. The Knicks (26-26) are desperate to get out of the eighth or seventh hole so they can avoid Miami or Chicago in the first round. They still could catch Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead, trailing by three games, but the injuries look too devastating. Even Tyson Chandler admitted he has a new groin injury.

The Bucks now control their own destiny. Follow the math. The Bucks, winners over Cleveland last night, closed within 1 ½ games of No. 8. The Knicks still have one game left in Milwaukee on April 11 and if the Bucks win, they own the tiebreaker.

Clearly, Woodson wanted this one badly against his Hawks successor and former assistant coach, Larry Drew, who reportedly undermined him in his final season in Atlanta. Woodson said they do not talk any longer.

“I really wanted to get this win for coach,’’ Chandler said. “That makes it more frustrating than a regular loss.’’

Chandler did nothing to help the cause. The groin strain effected his activity as he had just four points, missing all three of his foul shots. The Knicks already are missing key members of the rotation in starting power forward Amar’e Stoudemire, backup big man Jared Jeffries and Lin.

Anthony, who had two terrific outings entering last night, looked on the way for a 40-strong performance after completing a 3-point play, with Marvin Williams the victim. Anthony juked Williams at the perimeter, then buried the jumper and got fouled.

Anthony made the free throw to cut the lead to 80-78 with 8:56 left as the Knicks rallied from a 15-point deficit. Then Anthony stole the ball from Josh Smith but hurt his groin again on the play. Davis missed a key driving layup that would have tied the score.

After the game, Anthony admitted he lost his power after tweaking the groin he said felt “pretty good’’ through three quarters. He missed his next three shots and committed a devastating turnover, his pass intercepted by Teague, who raced downcourt for a fastbreak dunk and 87-78 lead with 7:10 left.

Anthony became passive and admitted he no longer called the ball.

“It takes away my power and lift,’’ Anthony said. “There wasn’t too much I could do.’’

Green, who used to hurt the Knicks in Philadelphia, put the final nails in the coffin with two straight hoops. He undressed J.R. Smith on a drive for an easy layup. On the next possession he buried a corner trey to put Atlanta up 94-84 with 3:41 left. This wasn’t Woody D.

Rookie Iman Shumpert, in his return to Atlanta after starring at Georgia Tech, was the only other Knick to score in double-figures with 25 points. The rookie said he felt the Knicks were “a step slow.”“We just kept daring [Green] to shoot it and every time he just knocked it down.’’

The Knicks also were awful from the free-throw line, going 22 of 33 (66.7 percent). “The effort just wasn’t there when needed,’’ Woodson said. “Carmelo played solid, but we have to get more guys involved offensively.’’

In particular, Steve Novak, the Knicks’ 3-point shooting ace, got off just three shots and scored just three points in 20 minutes. Smith shot 2 of 10. The bench finished 4 of 16.

Anthony got hot early, scoring the team’s first six points, mostly on inside buckets, and finished with an efficient 17 points, on 7 of 12 shooting at the half.

The loss of Lin finally felt its effects and Mike Bibby isn’t the answer as backup. Davis looked slow and lethargic and took a beating from hecklers in the front row, not realizing his hamstring was the cause. In his lowest moment, Davis had a pull-up jumper blocked by Teague and shot 2 of 7 in the half.

Davis said the condensed lockout schedule isn’t making it easy for him.

“Usually you get a day or two, three days in a regular [year],’’ Davis said. “It’s an unfortunate situation.’’